Kilmarnock 0-1 Celtic: Scott Brown scores then is sent off

Captain Scott Brown was shown a second yellow card for celebrating after his 90th-minute winner at Kilmarnock moved Celtic eight points clear in the Scottish Premiership.

Brown's shot struck Alex Bruce and spun past Dan Bachmann to earn the leaders a first win in three games in Ayrshire.

Kirk Broadfoot had earlier been sent off for a high challenge on Brown.

The win maintains Celtic's record of winning all of their eight domestic games in 2019 without conceding.

And with Rangers and Aberdeen failing to win on Saturday, it means Brendan Rodgers' side have responded to their Europa League humbling against Valencia by extending their lead in the Premiership.

Kilmarnock, who had a Conor McAleny effort disallowed for handball, stay fourth and sit one point behind Aberdeen.

• Rodgers feels for Brown after red card
• Reaction & as it happened
• Who did you rate man of the match?

Familiar feeling

It had been an assured start to the new year for Celtic. Seven wins, 21 goals scored, none conceded. Then it was derailed with Thursday's 2-0 reverse against Valencia.

Early on in Ayrshire it did not look like they were suffering any hangover. They began in their usual confident manner, but after two early attempts from Odsonne Edouard failed to find the net, Kilmarnock began to grab a foothold in the game.

It was an all too familiar feeling for Celtic. They had lost on their last two trips to Rugby Park, and they spent the last few minutes of the first half on the ropes. Jordan Jones skipped past his man and floated in a dangerous ball, then McAleny also bustled his way through the backline before a last-ditch challenge stopped him as he was about to shoot.

With Kieran Tierney and Emilio Izaguirre missing, Jonny Hayes slotted in at left-back for Celtic. The Republic of Ireland winger has had a troubled time at Celtic, and Kilmarnock began to pinpoint him as a weakness. But when Celtic went forward, Hayes was at the centre of much of their work as play bounced from end to end.

The game had a cup-tie feel about it. A point would not have been the worst for either side, with Celtic comfortable at the top and Kilmarnock in the mix for a Europa League spot. But both continued to pour forward at every opportunity.

McAleny found the net for Kilmarnock with a lovely turn and shot, but referee Bobby Madden correctly ruled it out for handball.

But Celtic were beginning to have the better of it when Kilmarnock found themselves a man down. Broadfoot's foot was high when he lunged at Celtic captain Brown, catching him on the ankle. The referee showed him a straight red card, and suddenly the hosts' task had grown.

Ryan Christie headed just wide as Celtic pressed for a winner, but Kilmarnock looked like they had survived the pressure before Brown steamed on to a Dedryck Boyata header to skid past Bachman with the aid of Bruce's unfortunate intervention.

Brown, already on a yellow card for an earlier challenge on Greg Taylor, was then ordered off after rushing to the crowd during wild celebrations.

Kirk Broadfoot was dismissed with 15 minutes remaining

'A draw would have been fair' - analysis

Livingston head coach Gary Holt on Sportsound

A draw would probably have been a fair result. When Kilmarnock went down to 10 men, Celtic raised the tempo. They've got pace, power, and when the game opened up they started to stretch Kilmarnock.

I don't think you can argue with Kirk Broadfoot's red card. It's late, his foot is high. It was just a late, mistimed challenge. It looked silly, but he had to go for it.

At the goal it's mindless from the fans behind the goal, and it's probably caused Scott Brown to get his second yellow card.

'I couldn't see Celtic scoring' - reaction

Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke: "I thought we were good today. I thought there were two good teams on pitch. We didn't deserve the bad break at the end. We're a little unfortunate.

"It's frustrating to play so well and not get anything from the game. Even after going down to 10 men we looked reasonably comfortable. I couldn't see Celtic scoring."

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "We weren't settling for a draw. I thought we played very well considering we had a game of such intensity and difficulty on Thursday.

"It is never easy here, you have got to break through their block and they are very well organised. You know there are not going to be many chances so you have got to be ready."

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Kilmarnock

Formation 4-4-2

26Bachmann

2O'Donnell5Broadfoot16Boyd3Taylor

29Burke8Dicker6Power11Jones

15McAleny25Brophy

• 26Bachmann
• 2O'Donnell
• 5BroadfootBooked at 75mins
• 16Boyd
• 3Taylor
• 29BurkeSubstituted forMcKenzieat 84'minutes
• 8Dicker
• 6Power
• 11Jones
• 15McAlenySubstituted forMillarat 82'minutes
• 25BrophySubstituted forBruceat 77'minutes

Substitutes

• 1MacDonald
• 4Bruce
• 7McKenzie
• 9Boyd
• 18Waters
• 19Millar
• 27Tshibola

Celtic

Formation 4-2-3-1

29Bain

2Toljan20Boyata35Ajer15Hayes

42McGregor8Brown

49Forrest17Christie11Sinclair

22Edouard

• 29Bain
• 2Toljan
• 20Boyata
• 35Ajer
• 15Hayes
• 42McGregor
• 8BrownBooked at 90mins
• 49ForrestSubstituted forWeahat 77'minutesBooked at 90mins
• 17ChristieSubstituted forBayoat 89'minutes
• 11Sinclair
• 22EdouardSubstituted forBurkeat 69'minutes

Substitutes

• 1Gordon
• 6Bitton
• 10Bayo
• 23Lustig
• 25Burke
• 30Weah
• 48Okoflex

Referee:

Bobby Madden

Attendance:

11,916

Match Stats

Home TeamKilmarnockAway TeamCeltic

Possession

Home41%

Away59%

Shots

Home8

Away12

Shots on Target

Home1

Away6

Corners

Home7

Away3

Fouls

Home12

Away8

Live Text

1. Post update

   Match ends, Kilmarnock 0, Celtic 1.

2. 90'+6'

   Booking

   Timothy Weah (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration.

3. 90'+6'

   Full Time

   Second Half ends, Kilmarnock 0, Celtic 1.

4. 90'+4'

   Post update

   Timothy Weah (Celtic) hits the right post with a right footed shot from the right side of the box following a fast break.

5. 90'+2'

   Post update

   Jordan Jones (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

6. 90'+2'

   Post update

   Foul by Timothy Weah (Celtic).

7. 90'+1'

   Dismissal

   Second yellow card to Scott Brown (Celtic) for excessive celebration.

8. 90'

   Goal!

   Goal! Kilmarnock 0, Celtic 1. Scott Brown (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Dedryck Boyata following a corner.

9. 90'

   Post update

   Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Alex Bruce.

10. 90'

    Post update

    Attempt blocked. Vakoun Issouf Bayo (Celtic) right footed shot from very close range is blocked.

11. 89'

    Substitution

    Substitution, Celtic. Vakoun Issouf Bayo replaces Ryan Christie.

12. 87'

    Post update

    Attempt saved. Dedryck Boyata (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.

13. 84'

    Substitution

    Substitution, Kilmarnock. Rory McKenzie replaces Chris Burke.

14. 82'

    Substitution

    Substitution, Kilmarnock. Liam Millar replaces Conor McAleny.

15. 81'

    Post update

    Attempt missed. Ryan Christie (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.

16. 81'

    Post update

    Foul by Conor McAleny (Kilmarnock).

17. 81'

    Post update

    Scott Sinclair (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

18. 77'

    Substitution

    Substitution, Celtic. Timothy Weah replaces James Forrest.

19. 77'

    Substitution

    Substitution, Kilmarnock. Alex Bruce replaces Eamonn Brophy.

20. 75'

    Dismissal

    Kirk Broadfoot (Kilmarnock) is shown the red card.

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